FURIOUS Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has wielded the axe following their humiliating Scottish Cup defeat by Queen of the South.

FURIOUS Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has wielded the axe following their humiliating Scottish Cup defeat by Queen of the South.

He told seven players they have no future at the club but faced further frustration when three top stars he wanted to wanted to keep, including Barry Nicholson, decided their time at Pittodrie is up. And the Dons boss insists there will be more casualties over the coming days as he draws up a blueprint to bring success back to the club. Former Scotland star Nicholson finally rejected the offer of a new deal to try a fresh challenge in England and on-loan teenagers Sone Aluko and Josh Walker will return to their Premiership clubs at the end of the campaign.

The seven players told they have no future with the Reds were warned to find new clubs as soon as possible.

Keeper Derek Soutar, whose cock-up led to the shocking Scottish Cup defeat to Queens, was chopped along with his back-up Greg Kelly.

Calderwood is not prepared to gamble any more on the fitness of striker Steve Lovell and defender Richie Byrne, whose careers have been undermined by a series of injuries and the pair are the other high-profile casualties.

Decisions on Republic of Ireland international Alan Maybury and former Dundee United utility player Stuart Duff will be made at the end of the season when their short-term contracts expire.

Calderwood said: "Changes were planned before Hampden but obviously that result made up our minds on a few other issues. This is the start of the cull and more players will be leaving in the near future.

"We didn't want to lose Nicholson, who has been our best player this season, and it is very disappointing that he has decided to move on.

"To be honest it isn't a huge surprise. At this stage in his career he wants to take on a fresh challenge and I fully understand his reasons. But it will be extremely hard to replace a player of his quality.

"Aluko is another we wanted to hold on to but he will be returning to Birmingham City next month.

"As far as Lee Miller is concerned, he is leaving his options open on the contract which we have offered him.

"While I'm hopeful he will stay, we still have to prepare a squad for next season and beyond. I'd like to thank all the lads who will not be here next season for their contributions and wish them all the best in the future.

"Decisions like the ones made today are never easy but are necessary to move this club forward."

Calderwood's next move will be to judge whether Michael Paton, who is on loan at Brechin City, and Stuart Smith and Neil McVittie, who are farmed out to Peterhead, have a part in his plans.

He said: "What we have to do is make the decisions about the three who are out on loan to lower-league teams at this moment.

"Talking to their managers, they have been well pleased with them but we have to make our minds up because it is a massive step up from that level to the SPL. They are too old for the youth team now and the issue is if they are good enough to get into the first-team squad for next season.

"In the ideal world you'd say you'd have 20 senior pros and 10 kids who might make it in a couple of years but the reality is we don't have the finances to make that happen which means more tough decisions have to be reached."